Jharkhand News: PHC in Palamu battles encroachment, earns praise for innovative ORS service

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Daltonganj, June 2: The Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Narsinghpur is currently more threatened by encroachment of its land than by the patient load it handles with limited resources.

On average, just over two dozen patients visit the centre daily. Like many other PHCs, it remains closed at night and does not provide round-the-clock services.

The menace of land encroachment is so severe that the centre has had to install barbed wire fencing. However, influential individuals continue to pressure health officials to keep certain paths open for their access.

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Despite these challenges, the doctor and staff at Narsinghpur PHC manage the situation with great resilience, facing uncertainties every day.

Located under the jurisdiction of Chainpur police station in Palamu district, this PHC has adopted an innovative approach to patient care. It has set up a simple yet effective ORS counter right on the premises.

The setup includes two chairs with an earthen pot filled with water placed between them, along with ORS sachets and a glass. Visitors suffering from heat exhaustion can help themselves to a glass or two of ORS without any hassle.

Civil Surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar, who conducted a surprise inspection of the PHC along with District Epidemiologist Dr. Anup Kumar Singh around 2 pm on Saturday, praised this initiative.

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Dr. Kumar shared, “I noticed this makeshift ORS counter equipped with two chairs, an earthen water pot, and plenty of ORS sachets.” He added that the health assistants encourage visitors to prepare fresh ORS using the cold water before seeing the doctor.

He further noted, “This simple innovation is impressive and far superior to many ORS counters in larger hospitals. It reflects the genuine delivery and distribution system maintained by the Primary Health Centre.”